New ELJ Article: “Voter Perceptions of Secrecy in the 2020 Election”

July 22, 2023, 3:26 amelection administration, political polarizationDan Tokaji

Here’s the abstract of the article by Lonna Rae Atkeson, Eli McKown-Dawson, M.V. Hood, and Robert Stein, finding that Republicans are more concerned about the secrecy of their ballots since 2020: Modern democracies pride themselves on enacting and implementing laws… Continue reading

“‘Suppression’ or No, Most Voting‐Law Changes Don’t Alter Partisan Outcomes”

July 21, 2023, 5:18 pmThe Voting WarsDan Tokaji

Walter Olson at Cato on the Grimmer/Hersh paper. Here’s a key point made by Olson, which I tend to agree with: “[M]any old ideas about who votes for which party are no longer useful. ‘Voter suppression’ narratives often rest… Continue reading

“Alabama legislature adopts new congressional map that could defy court order”

July 21, 2023, 5:11 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActDan Tokaji

WaPo: The Republican-led legislature in Alabama approved a new congressional map on Friday that increases the percentage of Black voters in two of the state’s congressional districts. But a legal challenge to the map is already in the works,… Continue reading

“Election Denial in California”

July 21, 2023, 5:08 pmelection subversion risk, voting technologyDan Tokaji

From Politico’s California Playbook: Beneath the thick top layer of the state’s Democratic control is a passionate base of conservative voters that even the Republican Party sometimes has to rein in. Pandemic rage, Donald Trump’s loss in his reelection… Continue reading

“AI Disinformation Drives Lawmaker Fears About 2024 ‘Wild West’”

July 21, 2023, 4:24 amcampaign finance, chicaneryDan Tokaji

Bloomberg: “The increased use of artificial intelligence by campaigns has far surpassed how Congress, political parties, and federal regulators are addressing the technology. Without limits on deepfakes, fears that disinformation could shape the 2024 elections are expected to worsen… Continue reading

Federal Lawsuit against DeSantis and Florida Election Officials over Rollout of Felon Voting Rights Restoration

July 21, 2023, 4:12 amfederal election commission, felon voting, UncategorizedDan Tokaji

Tampa Bay Times reports: “Nearly five years after Floridians voted to allow people with felony convictions to restore their voting rights, the coalition that pushed for the change is suing the state, arguing Florida created a system that impedes… Continue reading

“Florida’s elections laws pose challenge for voter registration groups”

July 21, 2023, 3:59 amvoter registrationDan Tokaji

Tampa Bay Times: Florida made it tougher to vote and engage in civic activities following baseless allegations from former President Donald Trump that his re-election in 2020 was stolen from him. In May, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill… Continue reading

“Trump prosecutions consume campaign funds and messaging as charges mount”

July 21, 2023, 3:53 amcampaign finance, election subversion riskDan Tokaji

WaPo on the vanishing distinction between Trump’s campaign and legal defense: “[J]ust over half of the money [Trump] raised last quarter went not to the campaign itself but to an affiliated PAC that is footing the legal bills. Of more… Continue reading

“A Collision in Court: Trump Grand Jury Proceedings Delay a Jan. 6 Verdict”

July 21, 2023, 3:47 amelection subversion riskDan Tokaji

NYT: “On Thursday, … a federal judge hauled the prosecutor leading the election interference investigation out of a grand jury proceeding and summoned him into his courtroom. The judge, Trevor N. McFadden, was apparently upset that the prosecutor, Thomas… Continue reading

“Texas jettisons bipartisan voter list program ERIC”

July 21, 2023, 3:44 amvoter registrationDan Tokaji

Politico: Texas is leaving the Electronic Registration Information Center, becoming the latest — and largest — Republican-led state to leave the bipartisan voting list maintenance program. The move by the nation’s second-most-populous state, while widely expected for months, is… Continue reading

How to slay two electoral dragons

July 21, 2023, 3:41 amelectoral college, redistrictingDan Tokaji

Danielle Allen in WaPo, on gerrymandering and the electoral college: “I’ve been going on for many moons about the need to grow the House of Representatives. But there are still two major arguments left for why this is… Continue reading

“Michigan clerk stripped of election duties after being charged for acting as fake elector in 2020”

July 20, 2023, 3:42 pmelection administration, election subversion riskDan Tokaji

AP: On Thursday, the Michigan Bureau of Elections notified Stan Grot, a Republican who has served as the Shelby Township clerk since 2012, that he will be prohibited from administering elections while the charges are pending. Grot was among… Continue reading

Brennan Center: “How a Renewed Code of Ethics Can Strengthen the Election Administration Profession”

July 20, 2023, 3:40 pmconflict of interest laws, election administrationDan Tokaji

The article by Derek Tisler, Ruby Edlin, and Daniel Weiner was originally published in the Journal of Election Administration, Research, and Practice. Here’s the abstract: Although election officials have successfully managed recent election cycles amidst significant challenges, they have… Continue reading

“Changes to Ohio voter ID law will impact August 8 election. Here’s how”

July 20, 2023, 3:32 pmdirect democracy, voter idDan Tokaji

From States Newsroom: To get to the ballot box, voters need to keep in mind changes made to voter ID laws last year, in a late-night legislative move approved by Gov. Mike DeWine at the beginning of 2023. Those… Continue reading